PNG Fire Service Sounds Alarm as Dry Spell Fuels Bushfire Danger

The Papua New Guinea Fire and Rescue Service has sounded a nationwide alert, calling on the public to be on guard as an extended dry spell pushes up the risk of grass fires, bushfires and fires breaking out in homes and buildings.

Chief Fire Officer Bill Roo said the dry conditions, linked to the El Niño weather pattern, have created hazardous fire conditions right across the country, with even the smallest carelessness capable of triggering disaster.

PNG Fire Service Sounds Alarm as Dry Spell Fuels Bushfire Danger/Photo PNG Fire Services /Supplied

"Even a small spark in this weather can destroy homes and properties within minutes. We need every citizen to take responsibility for fire safety in their homes and communities," Mr Roo said.

He acknowledged that the Fire Service was under strain at a time when calls for emergency assistance were climbing.

According to Mr Roo, years of tight funding have left a number of fire trucks grounded due to mechanical breakdowns and outstanding servicing bills, cutting into the agency's capacity to respond swiftly when emergencies strike.

Adding to the difficulty, he said, was a shortage of water in some urban centres, where supply is either restricted or has been cut off altogether in certain areas.

"We are also facing water shortages in some parts of town where water supplies are controlled, and some areas are completely shut down. This is making firefighting even more difficult during emergencies," he said.

Even so, Mr Roo insisted his officers remained determined to carry out their duty of protecting lives and property.

"We are limited but we are still here to protect lives and properties. What will help us most right now is the public cooperation to prevent fires before they start," he said.

The Fire Service has appealed to communities to avoid burning rubbish or lighting fires close to houses, power lines or dry grass, to keep matches and lighters well away from children, to switch off electrical appliances that are not in use, to alert the nearest fire station the moment a fire breaks out, and to use water sparingly while helping firefighters locate alternative sources during emergencies.

Mr Roo said keeping the country safe from fire could not be left to firefighters alone.

"Fire prevention and fire safety are shared responsibilities. Let us work together to prevent as many fires as we can and avoid disasters," he said.